Intellectual Property Law

Outgoing U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director Kathi Vidal said that she will rejoin her former law firm Winston & Strawn on December 16, 2024 after leaving the agency. During her tenure, she crafted policies addressing the effects of artificial intelligence on the patent world, international IP issues and racial and gender gaps in innovation and entrepreneurship.  Deputy director Derrick Brent will replace Vidal before Republican President-elect Donald Trump's administration takes office. Trump has not yet announced his choice for USPTO director. Vidal will rejoin Winston as a partner and member of the firm's executive committee in Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. Read more

1 Participatory MCLE Credits This program focuses on IP issues in joint development, collaboration, and consortia agreement from the U.S. and European perspective.   We will discuss the comparative IP law underlying these agreements, potential IP ownership models, licensing considerations, and strategies for negotiating (and closing) these agreements.  After this webinar, attendees should have a good understanding of the comparative IP law underlying these agreements, IP ownership models, and approaches to negotiating (and closing) these agreements.  The key audience for this… Read more

1 Participatory MCLE Credits; 1 Legal Ethics   This program reviews a year of judicial opinions referencing Generative AI, highlighting how judges, lawyers, and others use these tools—both creatively and problematically. We'll explore ethical, responsible deployment and discuss cases of misuse, sanctions, and evolving AI roles in law.  REGISTER HERE Non-Member Price: $75Member Price: $55 Topics we will cover include: An overview by presenter, Professor Heidi K. Brown, of five categories of cases Two concurring opinions issued by Judge Kevin Newsom… Read more

Call it an in-season tournament. That was the idea behind California Lawyers Association (CLA) Intellectual Property (IP) Law Section’s “Mix and Mingle” events held simultaneously at several locations around the state on Thursday, November 21, 2024. Read more

1.0 Hour Wellness Competence REGISTER HERE Law practice can be grueling. The work can be intense, and the hours, long. Stress is inevitable, but with a systematic and comprehensive wellness program, with regular hiking as the foundation, manageable. This will be a moderate 6-mile loop, starting/ending at Lands End, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From Lands End, we will continue to Sea Cliff, Baker Beach, the Presidio, and the inner/outer Richmond District. We will stop for a quick lunch along the… Read more

1 Participatory MCLE Credits; 1 Technology in The Practice of Law This program will introduce lawyers to foundational aspects of Generative AI, including Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications. Topics cover core AI functionalities, prompting, data privacy, confidentiality, ethical use/bias, intellectual property, and governance for compliance in AI use.  The material explored in this program will set the foundation for future webinars covering the respective highlighted topics in greater depth.  Speakers: Fredrick Tsang, Jonathan Joannides, and Andrew Stroud REGISTER… Read more

Dear IP Section Members, The holidays are almost upon us and, at least for me, it is hard to believe how fast this year has gone by. It is also incredible to think that, as those days pass, we are only two short years from the 50th anniversary of the IP Section itself. Founded in 1976, an auspicious year for copyright law, the IP Section has existed through enormous shifts in technology and legal precedent that have shaped the contours of the practice that we, and our many members, are so passionate about. Thinking back on this history is a humbling experience. First and foremost, it… Read more

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Mickey Krieger, a beloved friend, brother, and intellectual giant, who left us on October 25, 2024, after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. Mickey was a Los Angeles based attorney whose practice was devoted to high technology business issues, especially for software, multimedia and Internet-related development, acquisition, licensing, distribution and services. Internationally, in addition to transactions for private clients, he assisted in programs related to intellectual property for government entities including the U.S. Commerce Department and the Brazil/UN Software Export project. As a volunteer for… Read more

1.0 Hour Wellness Competence REGISTER HERE Law practice can be grueling. The work can be intense, and the hours, long. Stress is inevitable, but with a systematic and comprehensive wellness program, with regular hiking as the foundation, manageable. This will be a moderate 6.7-mile hike.   We will discuss practical strategies for managing mental health, stress, and overall well-being that are tailored to the legal profession, focusing on physical and professional health. Hiking and other structured social exercise activities, engaged… Read more

Dear IP Section Members, I am unbelievably excited to have the privilege of serving as your IP Section Chair for the upcoming year! I have had the fortune of working with the Section for around a decade and the opportunity to meet and chat with many of you in person. I hope this year to have the chance to connect with even more of our incredible members. The CLA IP Section has around 4,000 members and we look to continue to grow and provide top-of-class IP education and networking events to our membership. Since our founding in 1976, the IP Section focused on staying on the cutting edge of IP law and industry in providing information and programming, from new laws to the impact of AI. Many of you… Read more